Machine tool switch unit actuated by longitudinally and angularly movable handle

ABSTRACT

A switch unit for a machine tool having a handle which is manually movable in various directions from a neutral position to control the operation of a cutting tool. Upward and downward vertical displacement and counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of the handle from its neutral position actuates switches controlling electrical and/or hydraulic circuits which move the tool upward and downward vertically and rotate the tool counterclockwise and clockwise respectively. The handle can be rotated from any vertical position, and vertically displaced from any angular position.

United States Patent lnventor Harold E. Wiggins Clarkston, Mich.

Appl. No. 3,348

Filed Jan. 16, 1970 Patented Nov. '9, I971 Assignee Wells-IndexCorporation Three Rivers, Mich.

MACHINE TOOL SWITCH UNIT ACTUATED BY LONGITUDINALLY AND ANGULARLYMOVABLE HANDLE 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 200/4, 200/153 L, 200/157 Int. Cl .l ..H0lh 25/06, HOlh 9/06Field of Search 200/4, 157,

153 LA,153 LB, 153, 153K [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,748,204 5/1956 Woods et al. 200/4 2,760,616 8/1956 Stratton et a1. l200/153.l2 X 3,073,347 1/1963 Bent et al 200/157 X FOREIGN PATENTS1,230,890 12/1966 Germany 200/4 Primary ExaminerRobert K. SchaeferAssistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch& Choate ABSTRACT: A switch unit for a machine tool having a handlewhich is manually movable in various directions from a neutral positionto control the operation of a cutting tool. Upward .and downwardvertical displacement and counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of thehandle from its neutral position actuates switches controllingelectrical and/or hydraulic circuits which move the tool upward anddownward vertically and rotate the tool counterclockwise and clockwiserespectively. The handle can be rotated from any vertical position, andvertically displaced from any angular position.

PAIENTEnunv 9 IHII SHEET 1 [IF 2 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 14 14/9010 15'.IV/G/A/J- BY ATTORNEYS MACHINE TOOL SWITCH UNIT ACTUATED BYLONGITUDINALLY AND ANGULARLY MOVABLE HANDLE This invention relates to aswitch unit having a single handle for controlling several functions ofa machine tool.

In many machine tools such asa radial drill, the tool spindle must berotated in opposite directions and the tool-supporting head must beadjusted vertically up and down.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine tool switching unitwith a single control handle which is of comparatively simple design andcan be economically manufactured and assembled and readily serviced.

This and other objects, features and advantages of this invention aredisclosed in the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational-view of a switch unit of this inventionillustrating the control handle in the neutral position.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch unit illustrating a built-inlight. 7

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the switch unit illustrating themounting of the control handle and shaft in the housmg.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3illustrating an arrangement ofcams and switches.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 4 illustrating the mounting of switches with respect to the controlhandle and shaft.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a switch unit 8 with a C-shaped housing 10 and acontrol handle 12 fixed to a shaft 14. Unit 8 includes an illuminatinglight bulb l6 retained by socket 18 in a pocket 20 in the bottom ofhousing 10 and controlled by a switch 22. A transparent panel 23 extendsover the lower open side of pocket 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, shaft 14 is mounted for axial displacement androtation in housing 10 by bushings 24 press fitted into housing openings26. Shaft 14 is vertically centered in a neutral position by compressionsprings 28 and 30 having substantially equal spring rates. Blind holes31 in opposed ends of shaft 14 captivate springs 28 and 30 which bear onend plates 32 and 34 secured to housing 10 by screws 36. To lock shaft14 in the neutral vertical position a thumb screw 38 threaded in housing10 extends into a circular groove 40 in shaft 14. Shaft 14 is restrainedin a neutral rotary position by yieldably biased detent assembly 42engaging in a vertical slot 44 in shaft 14. Shaft 14 is yieldablyrestrained in both clockwise and counterclockwise positions of rotationfrom the neutral position by detent 42 and circumferentially spacedvertical slot 46 (FIG. 4). Slots 44 and 46 extend axially of shaft 14sufficiently to allow the shaft to be fully displaced vertically fromthe neutral position while still restrained from rotation by plunger 42.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, switches 52, 54, 56, 58 and spacers 6.0 arevertically stacked and secured by screws 62 to mounting pads 64.Mounting pads 64 are fastened to end plate 34 by screws 66. Each switchhas a movable plunger or actuator 68 to open and close the switch.Actuator 68 is yieldably biased toward its extended position and ifdepressed will close the switch and when released will return to theextended position and open the switch. Switches 52 and 54 are operatedby cam flats 70 and 72 on shaft 14. The actuators and cam flats arepositioned so that cam 70 operates switch 52 through its actuator whenshaft I4 is displaced counterclockwise from its neutral rotary position(as viewed in FIG. 4). Cam 72 operates switch 54 when shaft 14 isdisplaced clockwise from its neutral rotary position. A pin 74 fixed toshaft 14 and extending between two spaced apart positive stop pins 76fixed to housing it) limits rotation of shaft 14 in opposite directionssuch that switches 52 and 54 cannot be simultaneously operated. Switches56 and 58 are operated by conical or axially inclined and radiallycurved cams or shoulders 78 and 80 on shaft 14 (FIG. 5). Switches 56, 58and conical earns 78, 80 are axially spaced and positioned so that cam78 operates switch 56 only when shaft 14 is displaced verticallydownward from its vertically neutral position and cam operates switch 58only when shaft 14 is displaced vertically upward from its verticallyneutral position. End plates 32 and 34 limit the extent of axialmovement of shafl 14 in opposite directions such that switches 56 and 58cannot be simultaneously operated. Cams 78 and 80 are circular so thatswitches 56 and 58 can be operated while shaft 14 is rotated to operateswitch 52 or 54. Cam flats 70 and 72 are axially extended so thatswitches 52 and 54 can be actuated regardless of the vertical positionof shaft 14. Shank portion 82 of shaft 14 between earns 78, 80 has areduced diameter so that it does not interfere with the operation ofswitches 56 and 58.

In operation, switches 52, 54, S6 and 58 are connected to the electricalcircuits of a machine tool controlling the counterclockwise andclockwise rotation of a tool spindle and the movement of a head carryingthe spindle downward and upward vertically respectively. With handle 12and shaft 14 of the unit in the neutral position and the electricalcircuits energized, both the spindle and head are at rest. When it isdesired to rotate the tool-supporting spindle counterclockwise, to backout a tap, for example, handle 12 is turned counterclockwise (as viewedin FIG. 4) so that cam 70 operates switch 52 by displacing its actuator68. The spindle is rotated clockwise by turning handle 12 clockwise sothat cam 72 operates switch 54 by displacing its actuator 68. Whenhandle 12 is turned about its axis away from the neutral position,detent 42 engages one of slots 46 so that either switch 52 or 54continues to be actuated and the spindle rotates until handle 12 andshaft 14 are returned to the neutral point. Thumb screw 38 is retractedfrom circular slot 40 in the lower end of shaft 14 when it is desired toshift handle 12 vertically. The machine tool head carrying the spindleis moved vertically downward by shifting handle 12 below its neutralposition against the bias of spring 28 so that circular cam 78 operatesswitch 56 by displacing its actuator 68. The head is moved upward byshifting handle 12 above its neutral position against the bias of spring30 so that circular cam 80 operates switch 58 by displacing its actuator68. Vertical movement of the tool stops whenever handle 12 is releasedbecause springs 28 and 30 return shaft 14 to the neutral positionthereby allowing switches 56 and 58 to open. The head and spindle can besimultaneously moved and rotated by manipulating handle 12 so that shaft14 is both rotated and vertically displaced from its neutral position.For example, moving shaft 14 both downward and clockwise will bothrotate the spindle and advance the head and spindle toward a workpiece.To prevent the head from being inadvertently moved vertically, thumbscrew 38 is manipulated to engage in slot 40 of shaft 14.

I claim:

1. A switch control unit for a machine tool comprising a housing, acontrol shaft mounted in the housing for reciprocation and for rotationin opposite directions about its longitudinal axis through less thanfrom a neutral position, said shaft having a pair of flats thereonforming a pair of circumferentially spaced recessed around the outerperiphery of said shaft, a pair' of switches in said housing spacedcircumferentially of the shaft and each having an actuator normallyprojecting into one of said recesses, said flats being disposed suchthat when the shaft is rotated in one direction from the neutralposition one of said switches is actuated and when rotated in theopposite direction from the neutral position the other switch isactuated, said shaft also having a portion thereof disposed between itsends which is of reduced diameter, said portion of reduced diameterbeing defined at each end by an annular radially outwardly extendingshoulder, a second pair of switches in said housing spaced apart axiallyof the shaft, each of said |ast-mentioned switches having an actuatorprojecting into the annular space between said shoulders, one of saidlast-mentioned actuators being disposed adjacent one of said shouldersand the other of said last-mentioned actuators being disposed adjacentthe other shoulder so that when the shaft is actuated axially in onedirection from the neutral position one of said last-mentioned switchesis actuated and when the shaft is shifted axially in the other directionfrom the neutral position the other of the last-mentioned switches isactuated.

2. A switch control unit for a machine tool comprising a housing, acontrol handle having a longitudinal axis, means supporting said handleon the housing for rotation about said axis through a predetermined arcin opposite directions from a neutral rotary position and for axialreciprocation through a predetermined distance in opposite directionsfrom a neutral axial position, said housing having a first and a secondpair of switches mounted thereon with each switch having an actuatorbiased to an open position and movable to a closed position, saidcontrol handle having first and second pairs of cam surfaces thereonassociated one with each of said switches for moving said actuators fromopen to closed position upon rotation and axial movement of said handlefrom said neutral positions, said first pair of cam surfaces comprisingtwo circumferentially spaced abutments on said handle, each of saidabutments extending axially of the handle a distance corresponding to atleast the extent of said axial reciprocation of the handle from saidneutral axial position, the switches of said first pair being associatedone with each of the cam surfaces of said first pair of cam surfacessuch that rotation of the handle, irrespective of its axial position,from said neutral position in one direction moves to actuator of one ofthe switches of said first pair to its closed position and rotation fromsaid neutral rotary position in the opposite direction moves theactuator of the other switch of said first pair to its closed position,said second pair of cam surfaces comprising two axially spaced radialabutments of said handle each extending circumferentially thereof adistance corresponding to at least the extent of said rotary movement ofthe handle in opposite directions from said neutral rotary position, theswitches of said second pair being associated one with each of saidaxially spaced radial abutrnents such that axial displacement of saidhandle, irrespective of its rotary position, in one direction from saidneutral axial position moves the actuator of one of the switches of saidsecond pair to its closed position and axial displacement of said handlein the opposite direction from said neutral axial position moves theactuator of the other switch of said second pair to its closed position,said means supporting the handle on the housing enabling simultaneousrotation and axial reciprocation of the handle, whereby a switch of bothsaid first and said second pair can be simultaneously closed.

3. The switch control unit of claim 2 in which said second pair of camsurfaces is each frustoconical and integral with said control handle.

4. The switch control unit of claim 2 in which said first pair of camsurfaces each comprises a flat surface on and integral with said controlhandle, the actuators of said first pair of switches being radially andcircumferentially spaced from said shaft for cooperation with said flatsurfaces, said second pair of cam surfaces each comprises afrustoconical surface on and integral with said control handle, and theactuators of said second pair of switches being radially,circumferentially and axially spaced from said control handle forcooperation with said frustoconical surfaces.

5. The switch control unit of claim 2 in which said second pair of camsurfaces encircles the longitudinal axis of said control handle.

i i t

1. A switch control unit for a machine tool comprising a housing, acontrol shaft mounted in the housing for reciprocation and for rotationin opposite directions about its longitudinal axis through less than180* from a neutral position, said shaft having a pair of flats thereonforming a pair of circumferentially spaced recesses around the outerperiphery of said shaft, a pair of switches in said housing spacedcircumferentially of the shaft and each having an actuator normallyprojecting into one of said recesses, said flats being disposed suchthat when the shaft is rotated in one direction from the neutralposition one of said switches is actuated and when rotated in theopposite direction from the neutral position the other switch isactuated, said shaft also having a portion thereof disposed between itsends which is of reduced diameter, said portion of reduced diameterbeing defined at each end by an annular radially outwardly extendingshoulder, a second pair of switches in said housing spaced apart axiallyof the shaft, each of said last-mentioned switches having an actuatorprojecting into the annular space between said shoulders, one of saidlastmentioned actuators being disposed adjacent one of said shouldersand the other of said last-mentioned actuators being disposed adjacentthe other shoulder so that when the shaft is actuated axially in onedirection from the neutral position one of said last-mentioned switchesis actuated and when the shaft is shifted axially in the other directionfrom the neutral position the other of the last-mentioned switches isactuated.
 2. A switch control unit for a machine tool comprising ahousing, a control handle having a longitudinal axis, means supportingsaid handle on the housing for rotation about said axis through apredetermined arc in opposite directions from a neutral rotary positionand for axial reciprocation through a predetermined distance in oppositedirections from a neutral axial position, said housing having a firstand a second pair of switches mounted thereon with each switch having anactuator biased to an open position and movable to a closed position,said control handle having first and second pairs of cam surfacesthereon associated one with each of said switches for moving saidactuators from open to closed position upon rotation and axial movementof said handle from said neutral positions, said first pair of camsurfaces comprising two circumferentially spaced abutments on saidhandle, each of said abutments extending axially of the handle adistance corresponding to at least the extent of said axialreciprocation of the handle from said neutral axial position, theswitches of said first pair being associated one with each of the camsurfaces of said first pair of cam surfaces such that rotation of thehandle, irrespective of its axial position, from said neutral positionin one direction moves the actuator of one of the switches of said firstpair to its closed position and rotation from said neutral rotaryposition in the opposite direction moves the actuator of the otherswitch of said first pair to its closed position, said second pair ofcam surfaces comprising two axially spaced radial abutments on saidhandle each extending circumferentially thereof a distance correspondingto at least the extent of said rotary movement of the handle in oppositedirections from said neutral rotary position, the switches of saidsecond pair being associated one with each of said axially spaced radialabutments such that axial displacement of said handle, irrespective ofits rotary position, in one direction from said neutral axial positionmoves the actuator of one of the switches of said second pair to itsclosed position and axial displacement of said handle in the oppositedirection from said neutral axial position moves the actuator of theother switch of saiD second pair to its closed position, said meanssupporting the handle on the housing enabling simultaneous rotation andaxial reciprocation of the handle, whereby a switch of both said firstand said second pair can be simultaneously closed.
 3. The switch controlunit of claim 2 in which said second pair of cam surfaces is eachfrustoconical and integral with said control handle.
 4. The switchcontrol unit of claim 2 in which said first pair of cam surfaces eachcomprises a flat surface on and integral with said control handle, theactuators of said first pair of switches being radially andcircumferentially spaced from said shaft for cooperation with said flatsurfaces, said second pair of cam surfaces each comprises afrustoconical surface on and integral with said control handle, and theactuators of said second pair of switches being radially,circumferentially and axially spaced from said control handle forcooperation with said frustoconical surfaces.
 5. The switch control unitof claim 2 in which said second pair of cam surfaces encircles thelongitudinal axis of said control handle.